Manish Sisodia has said that schools in Delhi shall remain closed for Secondary classes as well till Sunday in view of the ongoing pollution crisis in the capital city.

New Delhi: Manish Sisodia yesterday said that schools in Delhi shall remain closed for Secondary classes as well till Sunday in view of the ongoing pollution crisis in the capital city. The Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had called a meeting with the Education, Health and Environment Departments, on tuesday evening (November 7, 2017). The capital city had woken up to severe smog on Tuesday morning. The air quality was deemed 'severe' by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by 10 am on Tuessday. 'Severe' air quality affects not just those with respiratory or cardiovascular disease but also affects healthy people.

Last time, the air quality had surpassed ' severe' was on October 20 last year, the next day after Diwali celebrations when the pollution had increased and the city was covered in thick haze of pollutants.

The pollution is a result of a process called 'stubble burning'. The Delhi high Court has asked Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan to inform the court about action taken against stubble burning.

A top medical body has declared the current situation in Delhi as a 'public health emergency'. Because of the smog and poor air quality, the Indian Medical Association has cancelled the annual half marathon which was scheduled on November 19. The decision has been taken to protect the runners and volunteers from any health risk which may result because of the high levels of deadly particulate matter in air.

"The government has decided that the schools timing will be 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. till November 30," said Rajiv Rattan, Special Secretary to Haryana government (School Education Department) in his order which is applicable to all government, private aided and unaided private schools.